How to Recover Data from a Broken USB Drive: 3 Useful Tips

USB drives are a reliable way to store and transfer data between computers. If you plug a USB drive into your computer and it turns out to be unrecognised, then panic sets in. Check the USB drive first. Make sure it’s not damaged before you worry about data loss or other serious issues. How to recover data from a broken USB drive? Whether it’s natural wear and tear, a broken connector, moisture damage, or a cracked chassis, handle the affected device with care. Otherwise, you might end up losing all the content that drive holds.

Let’s test every possible situation, corresponding solutions, and potential tips.

How to Fix Physically Broken Flash Drives?

Before you dive into how to recover data from a broken USB drive, you must assess the damage. Considering physical damage, a USB drive can encounter the following types:

• Bent or broken connector

• Cracked or shattered casing

• Exposed chips or circuits.

• Moisture or water damage

• Exposure to too much heat or cold.

If the connector is slightly bent, then you can apply some gentle pressure to it. So, the USB drive’s connector will be back in its place and the device must be working. In case it’s a cracked casing, then make sure you don’t touch any of its exposed parts. Or else, you might risk data loss.

For inexplicable corruption, you must contact Data Recovery specialists in Dubai. Don’t skip professional help if your computer doesn’t recognise your USB drive.

Data Recovery Options for a Physically Damaged USB Drive

Your USB drive may still work well even if it has physical damage when you connect it to your PC. However, you should be careful about the failing USB drive and try retrieving the data in danger.

Let’s discuss the most common scenarios here.

How to Recover Data When the USB Drive is Recognised

Surprisingly, your computer detects your broken USB drive right when you plug it in. The usual chime tells you that you are in. However, your PC might flash instructions to format the drive if it detects the damage.

First of all, cancel such prompts. To avoid unexpected data loss, you can use a reliable data recovery tool. Additionally, you can attempt any of the following processes to fix a failing USB drive.

Use Windows Troubleshooter

Windows Troubleshooter is a fantastic integrated tool to detect and resolve anomalies. So, you can run it to fix a broken or corrupted USB drive.

• Navigate to Windows Explorer and right-click the USB drive.

• Next, open Properties and go to Tools.

• Under the Error Checking column, click Check.

• Click on ‘Scan and repair drive’ from the next window.

Run CHKDSK

Another way to fix your compromised USB drive is to run a CHKDSK scan on your Windows computer. Here’s what you need to run a CHKDSK scan.

• First, open a Command Prompt window with admin privileges.

• Then, type in the following command in the console: chkdsk D: /f. Replace D with your USB drive’s letter as shown in Windows Explorer. Now, hit Enter.

Soon, Windows will start scanning the device and will fix it if possible.

Format the USB Drive

Once you’ve retrieved data from the USB drive with recovery software, you can format the flash drive. If the failing drive has bad sectors, then a format can make the device reusable.

• Access a Run dialogue box with the Windows + R shortcut.

• After that, type ‘diskmgmt.msc’ and click OK.

• The window of Disk Management will open. Locate your drive there.

• Then, right-click on your USB flash drive’s partition and choose Format from the context menu.

• Now, select a file system and set the allocation unit size to default.

• Also, uncheck the box next to ‘Perform a quick format’ for a full format of the USB flash drive.

• Finally, click OK and follow the on-screen guidelines.

How to Recover Data from USB Not Working

If your computer doesn’t recognise the broken USB flash drive, the situation can get worse. No wonder, it’s more than just superficial damage. Also, the damage range can extend to a failing USB connector or a damaged circuit board.

Worst, the flash memory chip can be at stake. Not to mention, common data recovery software can’t cut it. Only a professional Data Recovery engineer can fix the problem and recover your data.

Tips on How to Recover Data From A Broken USB Drive

Before you attempt data recovery tools on a broken USB flash drive, there are a few things you should be aware of. Otherwise, you might induce further media damage to your USB flash drive. Moreover, you should be prompt in such cases to avoid more data loss and fewer chances of recovery.

Here are some tips associated with how to recover data from a broken USB drive.

1. Examine Your USB Flash Drive’s Physique

Has your USB drive become exposed? So, avoid touching any exposed parts. Flash media can easily discharge electrostatically and get contaminated. Also, it’s beyond DIY repair with data recovery software and similar options.

Instead, you should keep the exposed USB drive safe and packed in an anti-static bag. If it’s a minor dispute, then you can consider attempting data recovery with dedicated tools. However, for that, your computer should detect the USB flash drive.

Otherwise, a professional and experienced Data Recovery Dubai expert is your only hope. Data recovery software can fix accidental deletions, logical damage, and virus infections. It doesn’t stand a chance against a physically broken USB drive.

2. Consider Repair Options for the Broken USB Drive

Many forums suggest quick re-soldering if the USB head comes off the printed circuit board. So, see if this is possible for your broken USB flash drive. However, you should not risk such a fix if you do not have experience and tools for soldering.

Otherwise, any failed attempt to bridge connections can damage components and lead to data loss. So, the best option for fixing your broken USB drive is a certified lab.

Thus, your USB drive can be safe from contaminant-related damage. Before you fix broken flash drives, make sure you follow the precautions mentioned above.

3. Connect to a Reliable Data Recovery Company

A physically damaged USB drive, if not handled safely, can lead to data loss. Hence, you must not take any chances with your endangered USB drive. Reach out to a reputable data recovery company in Dubai. They are known for their high standards in recovering data from damaged USB drives.

Make sure that the data recovery company has a modern facility to keep your drive safe. They should be able to prevent any contamination of the affected USB flash drive. The company should use top-quality equipment to recover data and repair the damaged drive, if possible.

Check out if they offer a quotation so you can compare their prices and included services. Until you reach out to a data recovery expert, make sure you don’t interfere with the drive. Otherwise, data can be overwritten and lost forever.

Signs That Your USB Drive is Failing…

You may notice that files may disappear at random from the USB flash drive and there may be obvious damages. There may be a slowdown in speed of writing and reading. There could be intermittent connection, frequent freezes and an incorrect capacity displayed. This can happen if your media is failing.

In case you ever notice such things, don’t delay in reaching out to the nearest Data Recovery Dubai option. A small delay or a wrong move can cause your data to vanish forever, with no way to get it back.